Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker may be controversial, but six years later, the film still has ripple effects through the entire Skywalker Saga. Featuring the final battle between the Resistance and the First Order, the 2019 film includes several nods to storylines and characters that came before. One scene in particular fell under intense fan scrutiny thanks to a legion of cameos that reflect back on both the Original and Prequel Trilogies.
During the final confrontation between Rey and Darth Sidious, the young warrior hears the voices of many Jedi who came before her. Among these voices are Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Kanan Jarrus, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and several more. Fans have broken down this scene for six years, successfully identifying every voice in the vast cacophony. However, a new piece of canon material adds a fresh perspective to this iconic scene, which may reveal a major character’s fate in an upcoming Disney+ series.
Star Wars May Have Revealed Ahsoka Tano’s Fate
A New Graphic Novel Suggests Ahsoka May Be Dead
Image via Marvel Comics
In what might be the most iconic scene of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey draws on the power of her predecessors to defeat her grandfather, Emperor Palpatine, once and for all. The scene features a legion of major Jedi cameos, though these iconic characters do not appear physically. Among these Jedi are Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jinn, Kanan Jarrus, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Adi Gallia, and Ahsoka Tano. The implication in this scene is that all of these Jedi have died and become one with the Force at some point before speaking to Rey. For most of the characters, this question is moot, as they died onscreen or have been confirmed dead since their final appearance. However, one character always stood out from this group. Ahsoka Tano is the only Jedi included in this scene whose fate has not yet been confirmed. At the time of The Rise of Skywalker’s release, many viewers took her vocal cameo as an indication that she dies sometime before the events of the movie. However, this could be debated, as Jedi have been known to speak to one another through the Force at times, even before dying. However, a new source suggests Ahsoka may share her fate with her fellow Jedi.
In a new graphic novel depicting the events of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey not only hears the voices of Jedi past, but these characters actually appear alongside her, seemingly as Force spirits. The panel (pictured above) features several Jedi whose voices aren’t heard in the original scene, including Plo Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Kit Fisto. Ahsoka appears alongside the other Jedi, clothed in her robe, having seemingly become one with the Force like her compatriots. While this panel may simply be an artistic way of bringing this scene to life, the imagery is meant to resemble that of Force ghosts. This would suggest that all of the characters who speak to Rey during her battle with Palpatine are indeed dead, including Ahsoka. This would mean that Ahsoka Tano most likely dies at some point before 35 ABY, or more likely, before the events of the Sequel Trilogy altogether.
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Dave Filoni Casts Doubt on Ahsoka’s Fate
The Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Previously Denied Ahsoka’s Death
Image via Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, Dave Filoni, has other thoughts about Ahsoka Tano’s fate in the Star Wars canon. After working as executive producer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, Filoni is the filmmaker most closely associated with Ahsoka’s character. Now, it is Filoni who continues her story in her self-titled Disney+ series. As such, the finality of Ahsoka’s fate comes down to Filoni alone. While the fan-favorite filmmaker has never outright denied Ahsoka’s perceived fate, he has cast doubt on whether or not her Rise of Skywalker cameo really signifies her death. In 2020, Dave Filoni offered a hint that Ahsoka may not be dead by the events of the Sequel Trilogy after all, claiming that her Episode IX cameo “doesn’t really have any big implications to what I’m doing with the character” and that he believes it was just a “fun thing” to include for fans of the animated series (via Gizmodo).
Upcoming Star Wars Series
Series
Showrunner
Release Date
Ahsoka Season 2
Dave Filoni
TBA
Maul: Shadow Lord
TBA
2026
Dave Filoni was instrumental in bringing Ahsoka Tano to life in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and has since been heavily involved in the development of her character across multiple series. As such, it would make sense that Filoni will also be the one who eventually brings her story to a close when the time is right. Judging from his comments, it seems that Ahsoka’s cameo in The Rise of Skywalker was never meant to reveal her ultimate fate. However, given the new details revealed in the recent graphic novel, Star Wars may be hinting that fans’ conclusions were right after all. In fact, these fears may finally come to pass in the upcoming second season of Ahsoka.
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Will Ahsoka Season 2 End With Ahsoka’s Death?
Ahsoka Tano’s Story May Come to an End Soon
Image via Lucasfilm
Some fans worry that the next season of Ahsoka could end with the iconic character’s death. Production on Ahsoka Season 2 is underway, suggesting that the series could return sometime in 2026. This would most likely put the second season somewhere between the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu in May and the beginning of production on Dave Filoni’s Heir to the Empire film. This comes as the “Mando-Verse” (series and movies connecting to The Mandalorian) appears to be reaching its zenith, culminating in a final battle between the New Republic and Grand Admiral Thrawn. As the end of an era for Star Wars, the death of a major character like Ahsoka could close out this long storyline with a bang.
Upcoming Star Wars Films
Movie
Director
Release Date
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Jon Favreau
May 26, 2026
Star Wars: Starfighter
Shawn Levy
May 27, 2027
Untitled New Jedi Order Film
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
TBA
Dawn of the Jedi
James Mangold
TBA
Untitled Heir to the Empire Film
Dave Filoni
TBA
Episode X
TBA
TBA
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Patty Jenkins
TBA
Ahsoka Tano’s death would break Star Wars fans’ hearts, especially those who grew up alongside the character. However, it would also give the erstwhile Jedi a chance to save the galaxy one last time by defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn and giving the galaxy a few more decades of peace before the next major conflict. Whether her demise comes in Ahsoka Season 2 or Heir to the Empire, it doesn’t seem likely that Ahsoka will emerge from her current storyline unscathed.
She has already survived far longer than audiences ever expected her to, having cheated death multiple times. Not only did she survive the events of Order 66, but she even managed to walk away from a duel with Darth Vader himself. It seems as though Ahsoka’s final chapter is indeed at hand. The Rise of Skywalker may not have intentionally spoiled Ahsoka Tano’s fate, but the character appears to finally be catching up with her fallen predecessors. As Ahsoka Season 2 enters production, fans will wait with bated breath to see what will become of their favorite Jedi.